Ankara: Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan stressed that hunger cannot be used as a "weapon or bargaining chip" against the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. In a press conference held on Thursday with his Norwegian counterpart, Espen Barth Eide, at the Turkish Foreign Ministry headquarters in the capital, Ankara, Fidan said: "For more than 50 days, Israel has been preventing the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza, and the purpose is known. Hunger cannot be used as a weapon, a bargaining chip, or a tool of punishment."

According to National Iraqi News Agency, Fidan further stated, "No state is above international law, and Israel's actions, which violate the law and the conscience of humanity, must end as soon as possible." He emphasized that the comprehensive blockade imposed by Israel on the Gaza Strip must end, and that the continued and uninterrupted delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza must be guaranteed.

Fidan pointed out that the massacres committed by Israel against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip "continue with full force before the eyes of the world."

Fidan said, "Turkey and Norway are members of NATO, not the European Union, and we believe that all steps related to European security should be shaped by our contribution." He added, "Norway is a reliable partner of Turkey, supports multilateral diplomacy, international law, and peaceful solutions, and shares similar views with Ankara on many international and regional issues."

Fidan expressed his happiness at the increase in the number of ships being built for Norway in Turkish shipyards. He said, "We are also working to develop our cooperation with Norway in the defense industry in the coming period, and we encourage our relevant institutions and companies to work on concrete projects."

He pointed out that Norway has long been sending humanitarian aid to Syria, and that it finds this extremely valuable in terms of establishing stability and security in Syria. Fidan said that he and his Norwegian counterpart agreed on the importance of completely lifting sanctions on Syria, and that they share a desire for Syria to become a stable and prosperous country that does not harbor terrorist organizations or become a source of irregular migration.

Fidan noted that Norway shares Norway's sensitivity to issues related to Palestine on all international platforms, and that it took an important and significant step by recognizing the State of Palestine last year. The Turkish Foreign Minister said, "Currently, Israeli expansionism poses the greatest threat to the stability of our region. Israel believes it can ensure its security by occupying Palestinian territories and weakening neighboring countries. This strategy is completely wrong."

For his part, Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide stressed the importance of achieving "complete peace" in Ukraine, pointing to his recent visit to Damascus and meeting with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, where they emphasized the need to lift Western sanctions to support the Syrian economy.

Eide also announced his country's official recognition of the State of Palestine, calling for the immediate implementation of the two-state solution. Regarding the Gaza issue, he stressed the need for an immediate ceasefire, describing Israel's violations as a "clear violation of international law."

Eide criticized the silence of some Western countries regarding what he described as "massacres in Gaza," considering the prevention of humanitarian aid a flagrant violation of human rights. He added that Norway "plays the role of a bridge between the European Union, Turkey, and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation."

This meeting is part of Ankara's efforts to strengthen dialogue with its European partners and support common regional positions on issues of peace and human rights.